Community Mobilization And Awareness Raising Program

Assignment Name: 

Community Mobilization And Awareness Raising Program

Country: 

Nepal

Location Within Country: 

Rupendehi, Kapilbasthu, Nawalparasi District

Professional Staff Provided by Your Consultant/Entity (Profile):

4-Professional Staff

(Min Raj Bhandari-Team Leader/Social Development Expert, Bishowa Raj Poudel-Tourism Development Expert)

Name of Client:

ADB/Lumbini Development Trust

Address:

Kathmandu, Nepal

Number of Staff Months:

116 Months

Duration of Assignment:

Start Date (Month/Year): 

April, 2014

Completion Date 

(Month/Year): December, 2015

Approx. Value of Services Proposal:

National Level: Nrs 10,650,000.00 International Level: US$

Name of Associated Consultant, If Any:

Not Applicable

No. of Staff Provided by Associated:

Not Applicable

Value of Services:

NPR 10,650,000.00

Source of Financing:

ADB/Lumbini Development Trust

Name of Senior Staff and Designation (Project Director/Team Leader/Coordinator etc) involved and Function Performed: Name: Mr. Min Raj Bhandari, Designation: Team Leader/SDE

Performed Function: Activity and resource planning, Organizing and motivating a project team, Controlling time management, Cost estimating and developing the budget, Ensuring client and beneficiaries’ satisfaction, Analyzing and managing project risk, Monitoring progress, Managing reports and necessary documentation of project.

Narrative Description of the Project: The community mobilization and awareness raising program was initiated to enhance the capacity of local communities of 3 districts (Kapilbastu, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi) of Buddhist heritage sites of Lumbini zone such as Tilaurakot, Kudan, Niglihawa, Sagarhawa, Arorakot, Gotihawa, Sisahaniya, Devadaha and Ramagram, especially the poor and marginalized, to maximize the benefits they derive from the proposed heritage-focused tourism development and promotion activities The major areas of intervention are tourism and environmental awareness, waste management and sanitation, long term village plan and action, hotel and lodge management, strengthening and capacity building of COs and FGs.

Description of the Actual Services Provided by Your Staff: 

Orientation of project package in site and VDCs: Sixteen VDCs and site Level orientation program were conducted in program area where people were oriented about SATIDP and Lumbini Development Trust supported Package-1 program. 

Tourism and Environmental Awareness Training (TEAP) Program: Community level Tourism and Environmental Awareness Training program was held in different spots of Ruphendehi, Kapilavastu and Nawalparasi district in coverage area of project. This program was conducted by MADE-Nepal in collaboration with Lumbini Development Trust, Asian Development Bank and Ministry of culture tourism and civil aviation. 

Waste management Training: Village level Waste management training for community people was held in different cluster of Rupendehi district.

Planning Workshop: One day workshop was held in all project site of Rupendehi, Kapilbastu and Nawlparasi district. The Tourism expert Mr Bishow Raj Subedi and Resource Person Mr. Janardan Paudel facilitated whole session of workshop. 

Local cultural group development: Local cultural groups are major attraction for tourists. We have identified some local cultural groups in project area among them Khudabagar for Tharu Culture, Madhuwani for Biraha culture and Lumbini Aadrsh for Madheshi Buddha geet culture. Those cultural groups were promoted by providing choreography training and some musical instrument support.

Formation and facilitate to STDC: In all project site, except Devdaha we had formed Sustainable Tourism Development Committee (STDC). The capacity development of STDCs was done by providing trainings and an office was established in project site. Stationary as well as some furniture was supported to STDC.

Capacitate local institutions, particularly women-focused COs/ FGs, Mother’s group: One day orientation training on saving credit was organised in 6 different site of project area. Chairperson, Secretary and treasurer of each COs are participated on training. The training was focused on leadership development, importance of saving & credit and management of groups. 

ADB mission Meeting with MoCTCA (Ministry of Cultural, Tourism and Civil Aviation) and LDT: A Review Meeting was held among ADB, MoCTCA, LDT and NGOs in Lumbini. 

Field visits support Cos, FGs and STDCs: Team leader, expert and Social Mobilizer made a rapid field visits and interaction with communities in Rupandehi and Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi districts in order to develop strengthen and capacitate COs, FGs, STDCs and local cultural groups. Existing institutions, settlements, organization and concerned stakeholders were made aware of the tourism and its benefits. Local level institutions are facilitated to organize regular (at least once in a month) meetings to share information among all members as well as to run activities in more participative manner. 

Coordination and networking with local institution in project area : Coordination and networking with local CBOs, Club, VDCs, Municipality, line agency in local area was prioritized for sustainability of programme. In this period we have visited LDO of concern district and secretary of VDCs to share the detail information of the program and progress so far. Coordination with district line agencies, local government officials, local communities was done to sensitize them about polices, programs, legal provisions related to tourism, conservation and protected area management. A tourism related networking was also formed and strengthen in Lumbini area. 

Regular field visit monitoring and supervision: MADE-Nepal Experts and Social Mobilizers had regularly worked out plan of activity along with monitoring and supervision of community for sustainable tourism development. We had done many focus group discussions to find out problems, demand, need and feasibility of local community peoples. Social mobilize are always on the field helping communities and making them aware about tourism and its benefits.